Outboard motor mounting plate



Oct. 312V 1950 R. D. BALDWIN 2,527,904

' l OUTBOARD MOTOR lMOUNTING PLATE Filed March 10, 1947 IN VEN TOR. @wat 9. @www Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED sTATEs eATsNT oFFlcE Robert D. Baldwin, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,607

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in outboard motor mounting plates, and more particularly to a plate adapted to be secured to the stern or transom of a boat to facilitate the mounting thereon of an outboard motor.

A conventional outboard motor is normally detachably mounted on the stern or transom of a wooden boat, such as a rowboat, by means of motor-carried bracket arms which embrace portions of the boat transom and which carry turnbolts which are tightened to clampingly engage the boat transom. Obviously, the securement of the motor is dependent upon tight engagement between the turn-bolts and the boat transom with the result that the turn-bolts are usually drawn up to a degree which causes their inner ends to bite into the boat transom and mar or damage the same.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primaryl object of the present invention to provide a plate adapted for ready mounting on the transom of a boat and arranged to have the clamping turnbolts of an outboard motor mounting impinge directly thereagainst and thereby prevent the wood of the boat transom from becoming marred Y,

or damaged.

An outboard motor, when mounted on a boat and in operation, subjects the boat to considerable vibration,'andrthere isalways the possibility of the motor clamping means working loose to an extent where the motor 'maybecome disengaged from the boat transom. A further object of the present invention is to provide an outboard motor mounting plate arranged so that slippage of the motor clamping means will be restrained by ribs or flanges on the mounting plate, whereby the hazard mentioned is minimized.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outboard motor mounting plate providing means for a flexible anchorage or connection as between the boat and the outboardV motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outboard motor mounting plate of bimetallic construction with that portion of the plate against which the clamping turn-bolts impinge being formed of lead or some other relatively soft metal or material to positively receive the impinging inner ends of the clamping turn-bolts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outboard motor mounting plate of simple and inexpensive construction and which may be easily mounted on the transom of a standard rowboat or the like, and which is adapted to be engaged by the clamp members of all conventional types of outboard motors. f

2 A further object of the invention is to provide an outboard motor mounting plate which is neat and attractive in appearance, which is inexpensive to manufacture and mount, which enhances the appearance of a boat carrying the same, which is strong and durable, and which is well adapted for the purposes described. l

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved outboard motor mounting plate, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of theV stern portion of a rowboat wherein the boatA transom has mounted thereon the improved plate which isclampingly engaged by the arms and turn-bolts of an outboard motor, portions of the boat being broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sec-v tional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front or face view of the' outboard motor mounting plate; and f Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of the rear or inner layer of the composite plate. y

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the numeral 8 designates a wooden boat, such as a rowboat, which is Vadapt; ed to be propelled by a conventional outboard motor 9 mounted on the stern or transom Il) of the boat 8. 'A

The present invention resides particularly in an improved mounting plate, generally designated by the numeral Il adapted to be affixed to the inner face of the boat transom l0 and to have surface portions thereof clampingly engaged by the discs or washers l2 on the inner ends of turnbolts I3 which are threadably extended through the depending portions of hook shaped clamping arms or brackets I4 integral with the outboard motor 9. y A

The plate' Il is preferably of composite construction and includes an inner layer or sheet l5 preferably formed of lead, composition board, Wood, or a similar soft material, and an outer I frame I6 preferably formedA of brass or a suitor ilange. Tapped openings II are drilled through the corner portions of the composite `plate and receive screws I 8 which serve as a means for rigidly attaching the composite plate II to the boat transom IB. It is also possible to utilize the screws I 8 as the means for holding the plate sections I5 and I6 together. The composite plate II is mounted on the boat transom I9 in the manner shown in Fig. 1 intermediate the ends of the boat transom and adjacent the upper edge thereof. When the outboard motor 9 is applied to the stern of the boat, the motor-carried bracket arms I4 embrace the upper portion of the boat transom IIl in the usual manner, overhanging the plate II. The turn-bolts I3 are then turned in tightly to cause the discs I2 to impinge against the layer I5 of the plate which, being of soft metal, material such as lead composition board, or wood, permits slight imbedding of the discs I2. -It will be observed from Figs.v 2 and 3 that the upper edge of the frame I6 carries an intermediately positioned loop I9 permanently engaged by a ring on one end of a chain or nexible connection 20. The other end of said chain 20 may be equipped with a swivel and a hook '2 I. In practice, the hook is secured to the suitable portion of the outboard motor 9 and the chain 29, attached to the plate II, forms a means for anchoring the outboard motor to the boat.

The outboard motor mounting plate I I, besides providing a surface against which the clamping bolts I3 may impinge without damage to the boat transom, deters slippage of the motor clamping arms I 4 should the turn-bolts I3 become loosened due to motor vibration. Should slippage occur, theinner ends of the turn-bolts I3 will contact the peripheral frame IG to prevent dislodgement of the motor bracket arms I4 from the boat transom I0. Y

While the preferred materials consist of lead for the plate portion I5 and brass or other hard metal forti-le frame I6, nevertheless other materia-ls may be utilized. It is entirely practical to use wood, plywood, or composition board for the plate portion I 5 in combination with a frame I6 having desired characteristics. It is also possible to form the entire structure from one material by molding or otherwise forming a recess therein; however, the bi-layered construction is preferred. The loop I9 is merely shown for purposes of illustration.. Any other means may be employed such as a hole in the frame for securing the end of the chain 20. While in the preferred form of the invention the plate is of suicient size and of such shape as to accommodate both of the turn-bolts of an outboard motor having two turn-bolts, it is understood that it may be made smaller where there is only one turn-bolt. Also, two devices in small size, one for each turn-bolt, may be substituted for the single elongated plate shown in the drawing.

The improved outboard motor mounting plate is of simple and novel construction, protects the transom of the boat, insures a positive clamping engagement as between the bracket arms and the boat stern, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination, a boat having a transom formed of wood or other marable material, a metallic -plate secured to the inner surface of said transom, said plate having a depressed midportion formed of relatively soft metal, an outboard motor for propelling the boat and having bracket arms embracing portions of said transom, and adjustable clamping members carried by said bracket arms and having portions thereof impinging against said depressed mid-portion of the plate.

2, A boat transom protective plate consisting of a plate having a flange along a marginal portion thereof, said plate being provided with means for rigidly mounting it on a boat transom.

3. A boat transom protective plate consisting of a bi-layered plate wherein the inner layer is a sheet of relatively soft material and the outer layer is an open frame of relatively hard material.

4. A boat transom protective plate consisting of a bi-layered metallic plate wherein the inner layer is a sheet of relatively soft metal and the outer layer is an open frame of relatively hard metal, said plate having means thereon for the attachment of an elongated eXible connection.

ROBERT D. BALDWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES `PATENTS Martin i.--" Nov. 30, 1948 

